Hi Barbies! She’s here! She’s finally here! My most anticipated film of 2023, “Barbie,” has finally arrived!
Inspired by the iconic Mattel doll, Greg Gerwig’s “Barbie” takes us on a marvelous and moving adventure when Barbie (Margot Robbie) decides to find out if there’s more to life than Barbieland by taking a trip to the real world with Ken (Ryan Gosling).
Not shocking, but I grew up a “Barbie Girl.” I had the dolls, the camper set and wore out my “Barbie Birthday Party at Walt Disney World” VHS. Some of the fondest memories with my late Grandmother was playing with my Barbie dolls on the stairs in the living room. But of course, like so many girls, I eventually had to let go of my Barbie dolls and move into the real world. Where being a “Barbie Girl” wasn’t as celebrate as it was shamed.
When I found out “Barbie” was being brought to the big screen with Greta Gerwig at the helm, not only was my inner child excited but so was the l woman I grew up to be.
“Barbie” is a joyous riot from start to finish. The film bursts with technicolor whimsy and high energy camp with a brilliant cast, gorgeous production, stunning costumes, killer soundtrack and hilariously meta script. Every Barbie fan will be smiling throughout discovering hidden Easter eggs of dolls and fashion sets past. It really felt like part of my childhood coming to life.
The entire cast shines brightly, especially Robbie and Gosling, who are phenomenal. But when you aren’t fan girling over Gosling’s pitch perfect “Kenergy” (please start his Oscar campaign now), it is “Barbie’s” thoughtfully layered storytelling that will steal your heart.
While Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s screenplay is filled with absurd humor and pop culture references, its the writing’s earnest focus on humanity, gender roles, self-worth, and the constructs of womanhood, that prove “Barbie” so much more than its hot pink marketing campaign.
Being a woman isn’t easy. Any woman from your mother to your wife to your work bestie will tell you that. And society doesn’t make it any easier. “Barbie” does not shy away this truth. In the third act, America Ferrara’s character has a monologue in the film that is so achingly accurate, it caused my audience to applaud — which is rare for anything that isn’t a comic book movie.
In fact, I’ve never had a movie-going experience like “Barbie.” I was surrounded by a sold out theatre of women and men of all different ages, sizes, shapes and colors all decked out in their finest “Barbie” attire, smiling and exclaiming, “Hi Barbie!” Everyone was wearing shades of pink like a badge of honor and for the first time in forever, it felt good to be a “Barbie Girl” again. Like finally “Barbie” arrived to tell us feminists could wear pink.
I could go on and on about how “Barbie” is a smart and beautiful blend of satire and sincerity. But at its heart, it is a wildly ambitious celebration of women that I cannot wait to see again.
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